Package closure

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a product package having a first package within a second package wherein the product is accessible with removing the second package.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/759,661 filed Jan. 18, 2006.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention pertains to package and closure for containment of an internal package containing a product. The product is dispensed without removal of the internal package.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Product containment packaging is well known in the art. When an internal package is to be orientated within an external package or shell, it becomes important that the alignment of the internal package is exact so to avoid producing defective product either by damage of the internal package during assembly and, or misalignment of the internal package and disabling the internal package's discharge valve. U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,408 issued to Speitel, Jun. 30, 1987 discloses a refillable sprayer comprising an internal spray bottle having a valve and actuator secured within an external package or shell by means of a locking collar. The internal package is aligned within the shell on the basis of the snug fit of the internal package's walls with those of the external package wherein the vertical walls of the internal package and the shell are essentially contacting each other. Such an arrangement requires that the insertion of the internal package be done by hand or by employing sophisticated assembly equipment.

In order to simplify assembly and eliminate inefficient hand assembly or purchase and maintenance of costly assembly equipment, the internal package ought to have sufficient space between it and the external package or shell. The horizontal and vertical dimensions of the internal package ought to be significantly less than the external package. This solution, however raises other issues. For example, with greater space between the internal and external packages, the internal package may shift or move upon transport of the product or at the point of use by the consumer. This can lead to mechanical damage of the internal package and, or its discharge valve. Even if no damage were to occur, a product requiring shaking before use might rattle around in the extra space or play between internal and external packages. This could be a consumer negative, partly giving a false impression the product is defective and result in customer returns.

It is therefore, a need that such a package assembly avoids the aforementioned problems or issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a closure for assembly of a product package. The package assembly comprises an object such as an internal package and a second or external package wherein product within the internal package is dispensed without removing the internal package from the external package. This package assembly is efficiently and simply assembled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A through 1I Perspective views of various embodiments of the closure

FIG. 2 Planar view of the closure

FIG. 3 Underside view of the closure

FIG. 4 Cross-sectional view of the closure along axis IV-IV of FIG. 2

FIG. 5 Front view of the package assembly

FIG. 6 Exploded view of the package assembly

FIG.7 Front view of the package assembly

FIG. 8 Cross-sectional view of along axis VIII-VIII of FIG. 7

FIG. 9 Top view of external package

FIG. 10 Perspective view of the actuator

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the illustrations, FIG. 1A illustrates the perspective view of the closure (100) with a plurality of positioning ribs (101) extending from the closure's central portion (102). The positioning ribs (101) terminate at the outer edge of said closure. The ribs, however, may alternatively terminate at points wherein the ribs do not extend completely from the central portion to the outer edge of said closure. Examples are illustrated FIGS. 1 B and 1 C. Not withstanding what is shown there in FIG. 1A, the positioning ribs (101) may be alternatively formed as a plurality of ribs, parallel with the outer edge of said closure, radiating circumferentially about the central portion. For example, FIG. 1H illustrates a single rib that has a circular shape. Alternatively there may be a plurality of geometric shapes such as concentric circles in a bulls eye pattern such as FIG. 1I. Additionally the ribs may be in an array that utilizes a combination of the alternatives illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1H; see FIGS. 1E, 1F and 1G.

FIG. 1 illustrates a closure having a triangular shape, the closure is not limited to such a shape and can be a shape nearly identical as the package it serves as the closure or any other shape that compliments the package. FIG. 1 illustrates a plurality of protrusions (105) that provides a means for attachment of the closure to a package. Alternative means of attachment include adhesives/glues, tape, sonic welding, heat welding or any other feature generally known to one skilled in the art and combinations thereof. The closure may additionally employ or alternatively utilize a flange as other means of attachment. The closure may employ a flange that extends from the edge of the closure. This flange engages the cross section of the vertical wall of the second package and may terminate exactly at the exterior vertical wall of the second package providing a smooth contour of the external surfaces of the second package. The flange may also extend beyond the vertical wall of the second package forming a base under the second package and may curl around the vertical wall of the second package.

FIG. 1 illustrates a annular lip at the peripheral edge of the closure (103). Said annular lip's height may extend as much as desired. When positioning ribs are utilized in forming the closure, the said annular lip may not only serve as the terminus of said positioning ribs, but also a guide for insertion of the closure into its complementary package. An alternative to this annular lip includes a plurality of separate segments located about the peripheral edge of the closure.

FIG. 1 also illustrates a plurality of protrusions (106) extending from the closure. Said protrusions (106) are generally made of the same material that the closure. The protrusions (106) are of such dimensions to be deformable and act to upwardly push or support an object vertically when such protrusions are loaded or compressed. These protrusions (106) can originate from any point on the planar surface of the closure (100) so that they contact a surface of the underside of an object they work against. The dimensions of the protrusions (106) are determined by a number of considerations having to do with the assembly of the package. For example, the length of these protrusions depends on the relationship or variance of the object height relative to the closure's complementary package. For example the protrusions are longer when the difference between the object and the complementary package is great or shorter when the opposite is the case. Furthermore, the other dimensions of the protrusions including their width and thickness depend on the function they serve. For example, if intended to vertically hold an object within a complementary package, the protrusions would be heavier or thicker. The protrusions may also be tapered to provide a desired deformation of the protrusion when abutting the underside of the object. This may be for vertical positioning, horizontal positioning or a combination thereof. This taper can be from top to bottom or as shown in FIG. 4 wherein the cross section of protrusion shown therein as (406) illustrates a tapering of the protrusion being thicker at the bottom than the top. The protrusion may also employ the taper to one side of the protrusion in order to bias it wherein the protrusion is directed to deform in a particular direction. For example, where the taper is only on the outside of the protrusion, the protrusion deforms inwards, as shown by illustrated as protrusion (801) in FIG. 8.

The positioning ribs (101) do not necessarily have to completely extend from the central portion (102) to the peripheral edge of the closure (103). For instance, the rib (101′) of FIG. 1B extends from the peripheral edge to second projection (106). Another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1C is where said rib (101″) extends from said central portion to the second protrusion. Yet another embodiment can include a combination of these two embodiments. In a separate embodiment there need not be ribs, instead having just the protrusions located on the planar surface of the closure (100). These second projections may be patterned as found in FIG. 1 or randomly located over the planar surface of the closure. FIG. 2, however, not only are ribs employed, but the positioning ribs (201) are three equidistant ribs that extend from the central portion (202) to the peripheral edge (203). In FIG. 2, the second protrusions (206) are molded into the each rib at about the ribs central radius. Illustrated in FIG. 2 first protrusions (205) are located at the terminus of the rib at outer edge of said closure, also illustrated in FIG. 3 as protrusion (305) and in FIG. 4 as protrusion (405).

FIG. 5 illustrates the package assembly of the present invention. The package assembly (500) comprises an object that's an internal package (511) as well as a complementary external package (510). The shape of the external package (510) may be the same as the closure (100). The external package further comprises a tapered collar (512). Said collar comprises a single part or multiple parts. The shoulder of internal package, not shown in this illustration, limits the depth of entry of internal package (511) within external package (510). The depth of entry is sufficient to allow the valve stem of the internal package (511) to be accessible via the orifice at the top of the collar. Furthermore, the protrusions contact a concave base of the internal package wherein the deflection of the protrusions are retained within the surface area of the concave base, obscuring the view of the protrusions.

FIG. 6 is an exploded illustration of the package assembly and illustrates the individual parts of the assembly including actuator (613), external package (611) having a collar (612), internal package (610) and closure (100) of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a front view of the package assembly of FIG. 5 having a cross-section along axis VIII-VIII that's illustrated by FIG. 8. The package assembly (800) demonstrates internal package (811) having a collar (812) wherein the depth of entry of the internal package into the external package (810) is limited by the contact between shoulder (816) of the internal package and the inner surface of the external package collar (812). The valve stem (817) is accessible within the orifice formed in the collar. Upon insertion of an actuator within said collar, the dispensing channel (818) of the actuator is in communication with the stem valve to allow flow of the contents from the internal package for delivery to the consumer through the nozzle (814) upon actuation.

The vertical positioning of the internal package (811) within the external package (810) may be achieved by a variety of means. For example, protrusions (806) may vertically support the internal package (811). Alternatively illustrated in FIG. 8 is a snap lock feature that comprises a lip (820) on the shoulder of the internal package (811) and a complementary bead (819) located on the interior surface of the shoulder (816) of external package (810). Upon applying force directing the internal package (811) within external package (810), the lip (820) slips over the bead (819), locking the internal package within said external package. With the engagement of the bead (819) and lip (820), protrusions (806) may provide additional vertical stability and retard movement of the internal package from side to side in the second package. As previously discussed, this is important to eliminate defective packaging after transport and also to hold the internal package in place while the external package is handled by the consumer.

FIG. 9 illustrates the top view of the external container (910). FIG. 9 further illustrates the location of the complementary bead (919). The bead may be a continuous bead or interrupted or segmented about the entire circumference of the collar as shown in FIG. 9. Orifice (921) is the location wherein the valve stem of the internal package can be accessed. A valve actuator is inserted into this orifice wherein the actuator is in liquid communication with the stem valve, allowing for flow of the contents of the internal package upon depressing the actuator. It ought to be noted that the actuator illustrated in FIG. 10 is intended to fit in a specified direction when inserted into the orifice (921). To make this happen, vanes (922) are molded into the internal surface of the collar and extend into said orifice. As illustrated in FIG. 10, complementary slots (1010) are located in the surface of actuator (1000). Said slots engage said vanes (922). This allows the actuator (1000) to be inserted in a specified direction. This arrangement of slots and vanes also prohibits rotation of the actuator when placed on the package.

FIG. 10 illustrates the actuator (1000). The actuator resides within the collar (812) illustrated in FIG. 8 and is in communication with the product within internal package (811) through its engagement with the internal package's stem valve at point (817) of FIG. 8. Upon depressing the actuator, product moves from the internal package (811) into the vertical channel of said actuator (817) and is directed through nozzle orifice (814). Upon release of the downward pressure, the actuator moves to its initial rest position wherein no product moves from the internal package. Normally the actuator does not dislodge from the collar due to travel of the actuator during dispensing or transport of the product. To insure the actuator does not dislodge from said collar, however, actuator tabs (1013a) are formed such that the tabs engage the internal edge (815) of the collar, also illustrated in FIG. 9 as (915). An alternative embodiment of this invention is where the internal package is a pump sprayer. In such a case, the dip tube rather than valve stem would be in communication with the actuator residing within the collar.

Fabrication Materials and Methods for Making Closure and Second Package

The material used for the manufacture of the present invention includes non-deformable and deformable materials. Non-deformable material choices for said invention include, but are not limited to, thermoplastic materials such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), polycarbonate (PC) polyethylene-terepthalate (PET), and blends thereof. Whether making deformable or non-deformable parts, the parts of the package assembly may be manufactured by any number of plastic manufacturing methods known in the art including but not limited to injection molding.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm”.

All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to the term in this written document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention. 

1. A closure for securing an object within a package comprising: a. a plurality of positioning ribs extending from said closure; b. a plurality of vertically raised separate segments about the peripheral edge of said closure; c. a plurality of horizontal protrusions extending outward from said separate segments wherein said protrusions are capable of engaging a complementary indent of a package.
 2. The closure of claim 1 wherein said raised separate segments form an annular lip about the entire peripheral edge of said closure.
 3. The closure of claim 1 comprising a flange extending horizontally and outward from the base of the external wall forming said annular lip wherein said flange is capable of abutting the cross section a package wall.
 4. The closure of claim 2 wherein said closure shape is relatively identical as that of the package.
 5. A package having an interior package located within an exterior package comprising: a) an interior package capable of dispensing a product; b) an exterior package comprising 1) an opening for accepting said first package; 2) a collar opposite of said opening, said collar having an orifice of sufficient dimensions to provide access to said internal package; c) a closure for securing said internal package within said external package said closure comprising a plurality of vertical protrusions extending from said closure, said protrusions having sufficient length to engage the base surface of said internal package when affixed by an attachment means to said external package; and d) an actuator located within said collar for dispensing product from the internal package.
 6. The package of claim 5 comprising a plurality of vertically raised portions about the periphery of said closure.
 7. The package of claim 6 comprising an attachment means comprising a plurality of protrusions extending from the outside vertical surface of said vertically raised portions and complementary recesses in the inside wall of said external container wherein said protrusions reside in said recesses to secure said closure to said external package.
 8. The package of claim 7 wherein the internal package has a dispensing valve stem residing within the orifice of said collar and providing access to the valve stem from outside the exterior package.
 9. The package of claim 8 wherein an actuator resides within the collar orifice and the dispensing channel of said actuator is in communication with said valve stem where upon depressing said actuator, the contents of said first package is dispensed through said actuator.
 10. The package of claim 9 wherein the actuator is aligned within the collar orifice by means of a series of slots formed in the vertical wall of the actuator and a plurality of complimentary vanes extending within the collar's orifice from the internal surface of the collar.
 11. The package of claim 10 having an actuator comprising a plurality of tabs arranged about the periphery of the actuator wherein said tabs have outwardly directed projections that are received by a raised surface formed upon the internal surface of the collar.
 12. The package of claim 5 wherein the collar of said second package is affixed directly to said second package.
 13. A product package assembly having an interior package located within an exterior package comprising: a) an interior package capable of dispensing a product; b) an exterior package comprising 1) an opening for accepting said first package; 2) a collar opposite of said opening, said collar having an orifice of sufficient dimensions to accept the shoulder of said first package and allowing for dispensing of the product from the internal package without removing it from the external package; c) a closure for securing said internal package within said external package said closure comprising: 1) a plurality of positioning ribs radiating horizontally and outward from the closure's central portion, said ribs terminating about at the outer edge of said closure; 2) a plurality of vertical protrusions extending from said closure, said protrusions having sufficient length to engage the base surface of said internal package within said external package 3) an attachment means for securing said closure to said external package; and d) an actuator for dispensing product from the internal package.
 14. The package of claim 13 comprising a plurality of vertically raised portions about the periphery of said closure wherein said ribs terminate at the inside vertical surface of said portions.
 15. The package of claim 14 wherein the means of attachment comprising a plurality of protrusions extending horizontally from the outside vertical surface of said raised portions and a plurality of complementary recesses in the inside wall of said external container wherein said protrusions reside in said recesses to secure said closure to said external package.
 16. The package of claim 15 wherein the protrusions extend from the outside vertical surface of said portions at the point of the attachment of said positioning rib to said inside vertical surface of said portions.
 17. The package of claim 13 wherein the internal package has a dispensing valve stem residing within the orifice of said collar and providing access to the valve stem from outside the exterior package.
 18. The package of claim 17 wherein an actuator resides within the collar orifice and the dispensing channel of said actuator is in communication with said valve stem where upon depressing said actuator, the contents of said first package is dispensed through said actuator.
 19. The package of claim 18 wherein the actuator is aligned within the collar orifice by means of a series of slots formed in the vertical wall of the actuator and a plurality of complimentary vanes extending within the collar's orifice from the internal surface of the collar.
 20. The package of claim 19 wherein the actuator comprises a plurality of tabs arranged about the periphery of the actuator wherein said tabs have outwardly directed projections that are received by a raised surface formed upon the internal surface of the collar.
 21. The package of claim 20 wherein the collar of said external package is integral with said second package.
 22. The package of claim 13 wherein the closure comprising a plurality of raised portions about the periphery of said closure wherein said ribs terminate at the internal side of said raised portion wherein protrusions radiate from the external side of said raised portions at the juncture where the positioning ribs meet the inside wall of the portions.
 23. The package of claim 22 wherein the portions form a continuous annular vertical lip about the edge of the closure.
 24. The package of claim 23 wherein said ribs comprise three equidistant ribs originating from one central point of said closure wherein said vertical protrusion are molded into the each rib at about its central radius.
 25. The package of claim 23 wherein said annular vertical lip and said ribs of said closure are molded as one structural element of said closure.
 26. The package of claim 24 wherein said vertical protrusion are made of a deformable, resilient material that creates upward force upon the base of said internal package.
 27. The package of claim 26 wherein the base of said internal package is concave.
 28. The package of claim 23 comprising a flange extending outwardly from the external wall of said annular vertical lip wherein said flange contacts the cross section of the walls of said second package therein.
 29. A package assembly having an interior package located within an exterior package comprising: a) an interior package capable of dispensing a product; b) an exterior package comprising 1) an opening for accepting said first package; 2) a collar opposite of said opening, said collar having an orifice of sufficient dimensions to provide access to the shoulder of said internal package; c) a means for attaching said internal package to said external package comprising a bead on the shoulder of said internal package and a complementary horizontal lip on the internal surface of said collar wherein upon applying force directing the internal package into said external package, the bead snap engages the ridge on the collar. 